Sheet-registering mechanism.



I 1, R. BLAINE. sum REGISTERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, i916. Patentecl Apr. 15,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET L 1. R. BLAINE.

SHEET REGISTERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23. 1916.

1 ,300,561 I Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- 'Park, in the'county of JOSEPH R. BLAINE, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO'MIEI-ILE PRINTING PRESS 8c MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SHEET-REGISTERING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

Application filed June 23, 1916. Serial No. 105,321.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osErH R. BLAINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet -Registering Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

' With few exceptions, it has been customary heretofore to feed the sheets individually to a printing press against substantially stationary gages or guides, so that during the I travel of the paper it is necessarily stopped in its movement, at least momentarily, to secure the desired registration. In such cases the inertia of the paper must be instantly overcome when the grippers of the impression cylinder, which are constantly traveling at fullspeed, grasp the sheet and transfer it to the cylinder. As will be appreciated, in a structure of that character the gages and grippers must operate with great precision to secure registration of the sheet and its transfer or clamping to the rapidly traveling impression cylinder. In other words, when a sheet of paper is gaged and gripped in a press of this kind the stationary sheet has instantaneously imparted to it the full speed of travel of the impression cylinder periphery, which renders accurate registration' difficult if not impossible. Moreover, an instant before the grippers close, the guides must get out of the way, leaving the 'heet uncontrolled during this instant affording a further chance for error in getting accurate register.

utilized without its being limited in any way .by the necessary registering process, while the correct registryof the sheetis in no way impaired by the speed of sheettravel.

This object is accomplished according to my invention by providing a rotary sheet registering mechanism including gages traveling at the same speed as the grippers on the lmpression cylinder and also including means for frlctionally seizing the front of the sheet at the point of delivery by the sheet feeder approximately adjacent the front gage and advancing the sheet to the said gage; also for similarly engaging the side of the sheet and drawing it laterally to a side gage traveling with the sheet; and thereafter pulling off of the sheet an instant after the same has been taken by the grippers on the impression cylinder,the'sheet registering mechanism and the grippers traveling in arcs approaching a point at which the path of the sheet is tangent to each whereby the front gage moves in its orbit into the path of the sheet as fed and after the sheet 1s registered and is seized by the grippers of the impression cylinder moves out of the sheet path to enable the sheet'to pass on with the impression cylinder without interruption or interference.

In order that a complete understanding of the invention and more or less of the details of construction of a preferred embodiment of the invention may be'fully understood, I have illustrated in a more or less fragmentary and diagrammatic manner one desirable embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and to which reference should be made. It is clear, however, that the invention may be embodied in other and varied constructional forms without departure from the essence thereof, wherefore the drawing and description are to be taken in an illustrative rather than in an unnecessarily limiting sense.

" Figure l is a diagrammatic view showing in end elevation the impression cylinder and the rotary mechanism for imparting front register to the sheet;

Fig. 2 is a detail view in front elevation of the mechanism for imparting front register;

Fig. 3 is a similar view in side elevation of the parts shown'in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the mechanism for imparting side register; and e Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the mechanism for imparting side register in side elevation.

F ront register.

adjacent and in parallelrelation thereto is suitably mounted in the frame of thepress a shaft 13 driven by a gear'14 in mesh with a similar gear 15 carried bythe impression cylinder, whereby a corresponding peripheral speed is obtained between the two.

An arm 16 is keyed upon the shaft 13 by means of an extended boss 16 whereon is loosely mounted a collar 17 held statlonary 28, while the lug'25 serves as a mounting for a swlvel block 29 screw threaded for engagement by a screw 30 mounted within a similar swivel'block 31 and having a milled-head 32. Fulcrumed on the gage arm 22 by the ,pivot 33 is an angle lever 34, 35. The arm 28 ofthe first mentioned angle lever carries a roller 36 adaptedto travel on the cam 20 while the arm 34 of the other angle lever carries a roller 37 adapted to travel on the cam 21 To the'arm 27 of the first angle lever is connected by means ofapin 38 and a slot 39 anarcuate .shoe 40 extending horizontally from. another arm 41' which is likewise loosely mounted upon the boss 16*. To the extreme front end of the shoe 40 is pivoted at 42 by means of a link 43 and a second pivot 44 the lower end 45 of a rod 46 :Which latter is mounted to slide within a swivel :block 47 mounted at 48 in the outer end of the arm 35 of the second angle lever. The link 43 has projecting beyond its pivot 42 a flipper 49 the purpose of which will hereinafter be made clear. 7 A spring 50 serves to hold the roller36 against its CELHL'WhIlG a similar spring 51 serves the same purpose with reference to the roller 37.

It should be understood that the shaft 13 extends the full width of the press and that a counter part of the mechanism abovedescribed is mounted upon the shaft 13 and the rod 19 near the two sides of the .press, that is to say separateda distance slightly less than the width-of-the paper to be fed, so that a front gageis provided for effecting register of the sheets at the front-edge and adjacent each side. The arms 16 are slida'ble longitudinally upon the shaft 13 so as to properly position the two registering mechanisms in order to act upon the sheet at the proper point. The position of each having been determined, the "arm 16 is clamped upon the shaft 13 by means of the set screw device 52 acting in an obvious'inan'ner. The

knurled head of the screw 30 may bethen manipulated by hand in order to position the gage ar'm'22 on the two mechanisms in the shoe 40 and the faster speed.

W exact transverse alinement and in the pro per position longitudinally to effect the proper front register of the-sheet.

The press being in motion, the gage arm 2-2 revolves and carries with it the front gage 23 at a peripheral speed corresponding exactly to that of the grippers upon the impression cylinder by reason of its being tied to the arm 16 by means of the screw 30. The

through the lever 34, 35'compressin'g the spring 55 and thus resiliently acting upon the lIIIIS-43 and the flipper-49 wherebythe latter is closed upon the forwardend cra sheet 53 frictionally gripping the same-between the flipper'and the lower face 6'f tl1e shoe 40, the degree'o'f said spring pressure being regulable by means of the knurled nut Immediately thereafter the "roller' 36 'rld ng uponthe cam 20 "moves theangle lever' 27, 28 thereby advancing the shoe 40 and .the flipper 49 relative to the gage farm 22 and the gage 23, the gagetraveling atlthe speed ofqthe grippers and the shoe 40 -at a slightly greater speed 'by re'ason of'th'e action of the lever; The sheet'gripped .at'its forward edgebetween theflipper 49 andthe shoe 40 "is likewise advanced until it comes in contact with'the'gage 23whereupon meeting with this obstruction the sheetucontinues its movement atthe speed of'thega'ge'while The front gage 23 continues its movement at the speed of'the grippers on the impression cylinder, the sheet being held against the shoe 40and abu'ttingthelgaige 23 by the flippers 49 untilthe grippers on the impression cylinder have gripped the forward end of the sheet. "This transfer takes place on the tangent point of'the shoe 40 with the impression cylinderll so that the flipper 49 and the'g'rippers 12 can both be onthe sheet at the tangent point and in fact an instant later. During the next oneeighth inch travel of the cylinder beyond the tangent point, the shoe 40 has moved the flipper forward out from'under the sheet so' that the latter is free to continue its path on the impression cylinder. The roller 37 then clears the high part of cam-'21 and the-flipper 49 is 'openedby the action of the spring 51 and is then ready to receive the next sheet as it comes into position. Similarly. roller 36 clears the high part of cam 29 andspring 50 restoresthe lever to its original position with; the shoe 40 v retracted as indicated, -7 ready for the next cycle.

-the cam 61 bringing Side register.

Upon the shaft 13 outside the two mecha-' nisms for effecting front register of the sheet above described, is a similar organization of mechanism for effecting side register of the sheet (Figs. 4: and 5). Herein the side gage arm is keyed to the shaft 13 by means of an extended boss 60* and a similar collar 17 is loosely mounted upon the boss 60 and held in stationary position by means of the arm 18 embracing as before the shaft 19. This collar is provided with a-cam 61 in one plane and another cam 62 in a different plane. The side gage arm 60'carries the side gage 64, the position of which is adjustable transversely of the press and longitudinally of the shaft 13 by means of the adjusting screw 65 journaled inthe collar 66 clamped to the shaft 13, and threaded in the lug 67 on'the boss 60 the screw being operable by means of. its knurled head for .1 he positioning of the gage6l after which the arm 60 is clamped in position upon the shaft by means of the clamp screw 68. Transversely slidable within the gage arm 60 is a shoe 69 carrying a roller 70 which Works within an oblique slot 71 of an angle lever 72, 7 3, the opposite arm of which lever has a roller 7 4 arranged to travel upon the cam 61. The other end of the shoe 69 opposite the roller 70 has pivoted thereto at 7 5 an arm 76 connected by means of a rod 77 with a link 78 pivoted at 79 to the shoe 69, which link 7 8 is extended toform a flip per 80. The rod 77 is surrounded by a compression spring 81, the tension of which is adjustable by means of the knurled nut 82. A coil spring 83 much stiffer than 81 holds the stops 84 of thelever 76 against shoe 69. The angle lever 72, 7 3 is fulcrumed to the gage arm 60 upon 'a pivot 85 and similarly pivotedto said arm at 86 is an angle lever 87, 88, the arm 88 of which is provided with a roller. 89 arranged to ride upon the cam 62, while the opposite arm 87 of said lever has an offset portion provided with an inclined face 90 adapted to engage the arm 76 whereby to open and permit to close the flipper 80.

In use the flipper is normally closed being held in this position by the tension of the springs 81 and 83. As the sheet is approachedapproximately to the gage 23 for front register as previously described the cam roller 89 rides upon, the cam 62 opening the flipper 80 to allow the side edge of the sheet to pass and to offer no hindrance to the action of the front register. Front register having been obtained the roller 89 rides off the cam 62 closing the flipper 80 upon the sheet 53 at the side thereof. Shortly thereafter the roller 74: rides upon the oblique slot 71 to bear through the roller 7 0 upon the shoe 69,

drawing the sheet 53 to the left, as shown in Fig. 4, against the side gage 64, the flipper sliding upon the sheet during the further lateral movement of the flipper and shoe after the side registration of the sheet. At the moment the grippers close on the sheet, the flipper 80 still has hold of thesheet and during the next one-eighth inch of travel of the cylinder, the flipper draws out from under the sheet and allows it to pass freely with the impression cylinder. The flipper then remains closed until the next cycle starts. After the sheet is taken the roller 74; rides off of high part of cam 61 bringing the shoe 69, back toits starting position.

I claim: a

1. The combination of means for imparting front register to, a sheet fed to a printing couple having grippers without interrupting the forward movement of the sheet, comprising a front gage mounted to revolve at the speed of the grippers in a curved path into and out of the sheet path, a revoluble sheet clamping device traveling normally with the gage, means to actuate the clamping device to seize the sheet, and means to temporarily accelerate the speed of the clamping device to advance the sheet to the gage, the sheet clamping device comprising a shoe and mechanical means to frictionally press the sheet against the shoe.

2. The combination of means for impart ing front register to a sheet fed to a printing couple having grippers without interrupting the forward movement of the sheet, comprising a front gage mounted to revolve at the speed of the grippers in a curved path into and out of the sheet path, a revoluble sheet clamping device traveling normally with the gage, means to actuate the clamping device to seize the sheet, means to temporarily accelerate the speed of the clamping device to advance the sheet to the gage, the sheet clamping device comprising a shoe and mechanical means to frictionally press the sheet against the shoe, and the accelerating means comprising a cam, and a lever connected to the shoe and actuated by the cam to advance the shoe relative to the gage.

3. The combination ofmeans for imparting front register to a sheet fed to a printing couple having grippers with-out interrupting the forward movement of the sheet, comprising a front gage mounted to revolve at the speed of the grippers in a curved path into and out of the sheet path, a revoluble sheet clamping device traveling normally with the gage, means to actuate the clamping device to seize the sheet, and means to temporarily accelerate the speed of the clamping device toad-Vance the sheet to the gage, the clamping device comprising .a shoe movable toward and from the gage and a flipper hinged to the forward end of the 'a' curved path to which-the sheet path is "tangent, a revoluble sheet clamping device traveling with the gage, means to actuate the clamping device to shoe and the actlrating and accelerating means comprising a pair of cams one arranged to operate "the'fl'ipper to frictionally hold the sheet against the 'shoe and the other to advance the shoe relative to the gage.

4. The combination of means for imparting front register toia sheet fed to a printing couple having grippers without interrup'ting the forward movement of the sheet, comprising a shaft arranged parallel to the impression cylinder, a gage arm mounted upon said shaft, a front gage on the arm revolving at' the' speed of the grippers, a lever suitably fulcrumed and revolving With the arm, a shoe-carried by the lever and having a curved lowver face corresponding substantially to thecurvature of the path of the gageand to its own path to which the path of the sheet is tangent, a flipp er hinged to'the forward end of the shoe, a-second lever suitably fulcrumed and revolving with the gage arm, and connected with the flipper,":a cam arranged to be engaged by the second lever for operating the flipper to hold theshee't frictionally against the shoe, and a cam arranged in the path of the first lever to move the shoe to advance the sheet to the gage. 7

5. The combination of means for imparting front register to a sheet fed to a printing couple having grippers Without interr upting the forward movement of the sheet, comprising-a shaft arranged in spaced para'l'lelism to the impression cylinder and geared therewith to insure a corresponding speed, a revolving arm fixed on the shaft,

I a gage arm adjustable relative to the fixed arm, a 'frontgageoarried by the gage arm, a lever fulcrumed on the gage arm, a shoe extending angularly from one arm of the lever forwardly in a direction corresponding to the arc of travel of the gage, a flipper hinged to the forward end of the shoe, a second lever fulcrumed on the-gage arm and connected With the flipper, a cam arranged to 'be engaged by the second'lever for operating the flipper to hold the sheet frictionally against the under side of the shoe, and a cam arranged in the path of the first-lever to move'the shoe to advance the sheet to the i '6. The combination 'of means for imparting front register to 'a sheet fed to a printing couple having grippers Without interrupting'the forward movement o-f'the sheet,

and means for imparting said register to "said sheetcomprlsmg a side gage mounted to revolve at the speed of'the grippers in plane of the seize the side of the sheet, and'means to move the clamping device laterally to bring the side of'the sheet to the gage, the sheet clamping device comprising a shoe and mechanical means to frictionally press the sheet against the shoe.

'7. The combination of means for imparting front register-to a sheet fed to a printing couple having grippers, and means forimparting side register to said sheet comprising a side gage mounted to "revolve at the speed of the grippers in a curved path to which the plane :of the sheet is tangent, a revolub'le sheet clamping device traveling with the gage, ing device to seize the side of the sheet, and means to :move the clamping device laterally to bring the side of the "sheet to the gage, the sheet clamping device comprising a shoe, a flipper hinged to the shoe, a lever connected to the flipper, and a cam engaging the lever to frictionally press the sheet against the shoe by means oif the'flipper, and the shoe shifting means comprising a cam, a .lever suitably fulcrumed and having one arm engaged by the cam, the other arm of the lever provided with an angular extension having therein a groove arranged at an inclination to the plane of revolution of the shoe, and theshoe having a projection extending into the groove whereby the rocking of the lever by the cam will impart a lateral shifting movement to the shoe.

8. The combination of means for imparting front and side register to a sheet fed to a printing couple having grippers without interrupting the forward movement of the sheet, comprising. front gages mounted to revolve at the speed of the grippers'in a curved path into and out of the sheet path, a side gage-mounted to revolve at the speed of the grippers in a curved path towhich the plane of the sheet path is tangent, revoluble sheet clamping devices traveling with the front and side gages, means to-actuate the clamping devices to seize the sheet, means to temporarily accelerate the speed of the clamping devices of the front registering mechanism to advance the sheet to the gage, and means to shift the clamping devices of the side registering mechanism laterally to bring the sheet against the side gage, the sheet clamping devices comprising shoes revolubly mounted to move in an orbit corresponding substantially to those of the gages and also in said orbit toward and from the gages, a flipper hinged to the forward end of each shoe, and means to operate means to actuate the clampthe flippers to press the sheet frictionally against the shoes.

fed to a printing couple having grippers without interrupting the forward movement of the sheet, comprising from gages mounted to revolve at thespeed of the grippers in a curved path into and oul: of the sheet path, a side gage mounted to revolve at the speed of the grippers in a curved path to which the plane of the sheet path is tangent, revoluble sheet clamping devices traveling with the front and side gages, means to actuate the clamping devices to seize the sheet, means to temporarily accelerate the speed of the clamping devices of the front registering mechanism to advance the sheet to the gage, and means to shift the clamping devices of the side registering mechanism laterally to bring the sheet against the side gage, the sheet clamping devices comprising shoes revolu'bly mounted to move in an orbit corresponding substantially to those of the gages and also in said orbit toward and from the gages, a flipper hinged to the forward end of each. shoe, and means to operate the flippers to press the sheet frictionally against the shoes comprising a lever connected to the flipper and a leveroperating cam transversed by said lever, the accelerating means for the front registering mechanism comprising a cam, and a lever connected to the shoe and actuated by the cam to advance the shoe relative to the gage, and shifting means for the side registering mechanism comprising a cam, a lever acted upon by the cam, the opposite end of the lever provided with an angular extension having therein, a groove arranged at an inclination to the plane of revolution of the shoe, and a projection extending from the shoe into the groove whereby the rocking of the lever will shift the shoe laterally.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH R. BLAINE. Witnesses:

Lnwrs T. GREIST, MILTON T. MILLER Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. (1.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent N 0. 1,300,561, granted April 15, 1919, upon the application of Joseph R. Blaine, of Oak Park, Illinois, for an improvement in Sheet-Registering Mechanism, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 127, for the reference-numeral 29 read 20,- page 4, line 57, claim 6, for the Word said read side; same page, line 128, claim 9, for the Word from read from; page 5, line 22, claim 9, for the Word transversed read traversed; and that the said LettersPatent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of May, A. D., 1919.

R. F. XVHITEHEAD, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

[SEAL] 

